Pakistan’s dam fund has become a matter of heated debate among the country’s intelligentsia. Irrespective of expertise, qualification and ideological inclination the opinions are generally divided on the basis of Pro-PTI and Anti-PTI factions.
While many people are generously contributing to the Chief Justice of Pakistan and Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan’s dam fund there is no lack of those who are opposing it. The critics argue that projects, like building huge water reservoirs that can also generate electricity are not like Shaukat Khanum hospital and hence shouldn’t be financed with charities.
All that controversy on significance or insignificance of donating for the cause of dams apart. What is more interesting is all those stories which are emerging on social media. Soon after Imran Khan addressed the nation in general and overseas Pakistanis, in particular, and urged them to contribute to the noble cause of building dams and bringing the country out of water crisis, there began an upsurge in social media stories about notable Pakistanis donating millions for the cause.
Interesting Social Media Stories on Dam Fund
First of all, someone, allegedly from PTI social media team came up with a photoshopped image of Dawn Newspaper that showed a message from Pakistan’s founder Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to overseas Pakistanis and urged them to donate for the newly found state. The forged newspaper clipping was immediately caught as being fake as it mentioned the wrong date on top of the paper. Further, the clipping also had wrong spellings of Quaid-e-Azam.
Look, even ‘Quaid-a-Azam’ asked for donations. Quaid-a-Azam was the half (adha) version of the great Quiad-e-Azam. Also, how many overseas Pakistanis were there just 16 days after partition? And as someone noted, 30 Aug in 1947 was a Saturday. Not Sunday, dimwits. pic.twitter.com/iXyDkfXaCf
— Nadeem Farooq Paracha (@NadeemfParacha) September 9, 2018
US Billionaire Shahid Khan Donating for the Dam Fund
Then came a fake news that US billionaire Shahid Khan who recently made news for buying Wembley stadium had also donated $1 billion for the dam fund. Well, it was just a fake news and no such contribution was made by the US billionaire of Pakistani origin.
🇵🇰 Pakistani-American Billionaire Businessman and philanthropist, owner of Jacksonville Jaguars & Fulham FC Shahid Khan has announced to donate $1 Billion for the #DamFund.
$1 Billion = PKR 123,220,000,000 #DamsforPakistan pic.twitter.com/W4OgwJ4bOR
— Dr#Jani (@MrjaniMBBs) September 9, 2018
After the rumors of Shahid Khan donating a whooping sum of money for Pakistan’s dam fund, the social media trolls up their game- they came up with memes showing celebrities like Johnny Sins, Mia Khalifa and even Ronaldo making their contribution for the fund.
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced donation of £15 million to Pakistan's dam fund.
£15m = Rs 2,325,000,000
One of the classiest human beings. ❤ pic.twitter.com/vpwe0qJdi0
— ASG (@ahadfoooty) September 8, 2018
Well, these were all not even rumors but trolls to slam the fake news factories running on social media.
Truth About Indians Donating for Pakistan’s Dam Fund
Amidst all those trolls, fake stories and propaganda games, there were many actual contributions to the cause. In fact, there were some Indian expats in Abu Dhabi who didn’t hesitate to make some contribution from their personal earning irrespective of the traditional rivalry between India and Pakistan. A Twitter user @Wisalbcn shared a video where Indians can be seen donating for the cause.
Indians donating for #DamsFund Patwario Doob maro pic.twitter.com/2NDKGuQFNk
— Wisal Khan (@wisalptiii) September 9, 2018
This Generated Controversy Too
Donation into a Pakistani cause by these Indians was indeed applaudable. Apart from what they contributed, the imminent show of friendship and care for humanity beyond the border was praiseworthy.
People like these young men of wisdom will change this region and bring peace here.
— Hafsa Siddique (@Hafffsa) September 10, 2018
But, again some hate mongers who thought that patriotism can be only shown best by criticizing the traditional rivals, couldn’t keep them from giving uncalled for opinions.
go to hill india this is our problem and we can salf this for our pakistan we dont need any saport from bloody india 😡😡😡
— Sher Khan (@sherkha64820737) September 10, 2018
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